All Blacks centre Richard Kahui has been ruled out for a month after straining his hamstring in training.

Kahui, whose All Blacks career has been hampered by a series of injuries, pulled up during a training run at Mount Maunganui on Monday and All Blacks doctor Deb Robinson said today he had been ruled out of the Test against Fiji in Dunedin on July 22.

But after a check-up from All Blacks medical staff in Auckland on Thursday, Robinson was hopeful Kahui, who can also play on the wing, could be in contention to feature in the Tri-Nations matches in New Zealand. "Richard pulled up during a training session on Monday and has a three to four week injury so will be unavailable for selection for the Fiji Test next week with an aim to return to rugby during the home leg of the Tri-Nations," confirmed Robinson.

Robinson said Hosea Gear, who injured a hamstring at an All Blacks training camp in Wellington late last month, was also out of the Fiji test but she was hopeful he could play the following week.

The three long-term injury casualties, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava and Tony Woodcock were all targeting a return to ITM Cup rugby ahead of the away legs of the Tri-Nations. The All Blacks face Fiji in Dunedin on July 22 before starting their Tri-Nations campaign against South Africa in Wellington on July 30 and then face old rivals Australia on August 6 in Auckland.